Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open

Ramban, Nov 30: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather surface link connecting Kashmir with other parts of the country, remained open for two-way traffic, officials said Saturday.

However, the Kishtwar-Anantnag National Highway remained blocked due to fresh snowfall at Sinthan Top, they said.

Official sources said that despite light snowfall on the old alignment of Banihal, Nowgam-Jawahar Tunnel and light rain at isolated places between Nashri and Banihal sectors, the highway remained open for two-way traffic.

However, traffic authorities said the movement of traffic remained slow due to single-lane road stretches and due to the ongoing highway expansion works between Ramban and Banihal.

They said that light snow was witnessed at Shaitani Nullah-Jawahar Tunnel sector on the old alignment of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in the early hours of Saturday.

However, the movement of traffic remained unaffected and it remained open for the movement of oil tankers.

Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Anantnag National Highway via Sinthan Top remained blocked due to a fresh spell of snowfall on Saturday morning.

Traffic authorities said that all traffic movement was suspended on the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Department issued a fresh advisory for Sunday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway would remain open for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles.

Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway, Ramban, Rohit Baskotra late Saturday evening said that the highway was open.

However, he said that the movement of traffic remained slow at a few places.

Baskotra advised commuters and drivers to drive cautiously while travelling on the highway, especially between the Ramban and Banihal sectors of the highway.

He said a loaded truck turned turtle at Lower Nachlana road.

Baskotra said a crane was summoned to remove the vehicle.

“Police reached the spot and the injured were taken to the nearby hospital,” he said.